By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has continued to demonstrate its deep commitment to community development and social impact initiatives, as it commissioned an industrial water project at Ohe Community in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State. The project, which forms part of the NAF’s Special Intervention/Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), was inaugurated on October 16, 2025, by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the project comprises an industrial borehole with a 35,000-litre overhead water tank, designed to provide residents with steady access to clean and safe drinking water.
Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gani Audu, commended the Nigerian Air Force for its commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians through meaningful community development projects. He described the initiative as a reflection of NAF’s dedication to social responsibility and its strong desire to impact lives positively beyond its core operational duties.
Governor Okpebholo noted that the intervention aligns with his administration’s grassroots development agenda, which focuses on promoting sustainable growth and improving living conditions across Edo State. He also lauded Air Marshal Abubakar for his leadership vision and his efforts in strengthening civil-military relations through people-oriented programmes, saying, “The Nigerian Air Force has shown that national security goes beyond physical defence; it includes the well-being of citizens and the stability of communities.”
Representing the Chief of the Air Staff at the event, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, Chief of Civil-Military Relations, explained that the Ohe Community water project is one of many initiatives under the CAS Special Intervention and Quick Impact Projects, aimed at deepening engagement with communities and fostering trust, cooperation, and mutual understanding between the military and the civilian populace.
Air Marshal Abubakar, in his address, reaffirmed the NAF’s resolve to strengthen civil-military cooperation as a strategic tool for national stability and unity. According to him, “Civil-military relations remain critical to national stability, as they promote collaboration between the armed forces and local communities while discouraging activities that threaten peace and unity.”
The Air Chief further revealed that the upgrade of the Directorate of Civil-Military Relations to a full Branch in May 2024 underscores the NAF’s evolving role in humanitarian assistance, gender advocacy, and grievance redress mechanisms for both personnel and civilians.
He particularly commended Air Vice Marshal Pius Oguega Oahimire, an indigene of Ohe Community, who coordinated the project, for identifying a development need that directly impacts the people. Air Marshal Abubakar urged the residents to take full ownership of the facility and maintain it properly to ensure sustainability, assuring them of the NAF’s continuous partnership in advancing peace, security, and welfare across Edo State.
In his remarks, AVM Oahimire, who also served as the project honouree, expressed deep gratitude to the Chief of the Air Staff for the opportunity to deliver such a legacy project in his hometown under the NAF’s QIP initiative. He noted that access to clean water is central to both life and development, adding that the NAF’s intervention demonstrates its recognition that national security and community well-being are inseparable.
He said, “This gesture by the Nigerian Air Force reminds us that security is not only about weapons or patrols, but also about ensuring that citizens live healthy, productive, and dignified lives. Clean water sustains life, and this project will stand as a legacy for generations to come.”
The commissioning ceremony was attended by community leaders, traditional rulers, NAF senior officers, and residents, all of whom expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Air Force for its continuous efforts in improving lives through people-centred projects that bridge the gap between the military and the civilian populace.
